5 MMA Weight Training Tips

Looking for 5 MMA weight training tips? Participating in MMA, or mixed martial arts, is a great way to build stamina, learn self defense and show your mettle. But you'll get nowhere if you don't do some weight training. Here are 5 MMA weight training tips you will need to perform to amp up your game, win matches and protect yourself on the street. These MMA training tips work for scrawny guys as well as those who already have some bulk to their name.

1. Use your own body weight for weight training. The more difficult the exercise, the more you'll glean from it. Thus, instead of doing easy, regular push-ups, make fists and push your body that way. Lay on the ground like you're going to do a push-up, but instead of placing your palms on the floor, make fists and place the flat part of your fingers on the floor. Do as many of these push-ups as possible, and don't be afraid to do only a few at a time to work up to several repetitions.
2. Implement some free weights into your weight training. Try using kettle bells instead of regular free weights to bulk up. You also might want to incorporate sandbag exercises and grip strength exercises.
3. Tailor your legs for self defense and MMA fighting by doing squats. Muscle endurance is important, and for MMA your legs need to be reliable enough to support your body in a fight. Thus, doing squats without weights or doing squats with a barbell balanced with both arms behind your head will equip you for whatever comes your way.
4. Work those abs. Perform sit-ups and ab crunches to gain stability and endurance in your abdominal muscles. Try to do the sit-ups without the assistance of a partner or solid object keeping your feet down on the ground. Some also incorporate free weights in their sit-ups. Don't use your arm or chest muscles to move your body upwards, either. You should be focusing on abs only. You can also perform these on a weight machine using the main seat and the two handles behind your head. Set the weight to something you can manage and work up from there when ready.
5. Equip your arms and chest with bench presses. It doesn't matter whether you bench press with free weight bar bells or do the rowing presses on the weight machine; both types of presses are excellent weight training for building arm and chest muscles. Start off with weights you know you can handle, as bench presses with free weight bar bells are dangerous when suspended above your head.